Spout assembly for food or beverage containers

ABSTRACT

A spout assembly ( 10 ) for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly ( 10 ) comprising at least one primary fluid inlet ( 11 ) and at least one secondary fluid inlet ( 12 ) through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets ( 11, 12 ) being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets ( 11, 12 ) being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet ( 13 ) through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; the spout assembly ( 10 ) being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spout assembly for being used with food or beverage containers; in particular the invention relates to a spout assembly for food or beverage containers comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or a multiple product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Preparing beverages by introducing a capsule containing a food or beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee or instant coffee, in a beverage dispensing machine and injecting water into the capsule is known in the state of the art: the beverage or food ingredient is typically extracted or dissolved into water to form the beverage or the desired final product, which flows out of the capsule through a suitable outlet.

As such, different capsules have been developed in the past, these capsules being at least differentiated by the nature of the capsule body used for storing the food or the beverage ingredient. Whereas most of the capsules are made of a rigid body or semi-rigid body, typically made though injection moulding or thermoforming, flexible types of packs can be made out of foil materials. Flexible packs have generally the advantage to semi-rigid and rigid capsules that less amount of material is used to pack the product which leads to overall less production cost, to lower life cycle impact shown in several life-cycle assessments and to advantages on the part of the user, who will need less available space for storing these packs, as they are more compact.

For example, WO 99/05044 describes a flexible beverage-producing sachet comprising a beverage ingredient in a volume formed by bonding two laminates at their edges, having a base seam into which a conduit of rigid plastics is bonded. An inlet nozzle is provided at the top of the resulting sachet for introducing water that is mixed with the beverage or food ingredient inside the inner volume of the sachet, the beverage produced being then evacuated through a beverage outlet arranged at the bottom of the pack, where closing means are provided, such that the closing means are adapted to open under pressure when pressurized water is introduced into the sachet, allowing the beverage to evacuate through the beverage outlet. However, this configuration presents important drawbacks for the consumer: the opening of the closing means is obtained by increase of pressure inside the sachet. Yet this pressure increase is not recommended for the preparation of some beverages because it creates bubbles at the surface of the beverage, for example this would not be desired for the preparation of tea. Besides, there exists the risk for the user that the packages may not rupture at the desired pressure, and that they would finally open up in an uncontrollable explosion. For this reason the apparatus where the sachet is processed needs to comprise means for totally enclosing the sachet in the machine during beverage preparation in order to avoid damages for the consumer.

Another drawback of these known sachets is that the inlet nozzle introduces water in the pack always according to the same vertical top-down orientation in the sachet. Therefore, all the beverages are produced according to the same process inside the sachet. Yet depending on the nature of the beverage ingredient and the desired beverage the beverage ingredient should be processed differently. Moreover, these sachets do not allow the preparation of food or beverage products that would comprise multiple ingredients: in case the user would like to make a recipe, a plurality of sachets comprising different ingredients would be needed; the sachets would have to be operated individually, with the corresponding annoyances, operations and time required from the part of the consumer. Besides, as already cited, all the products are processed in the same way, so no optimization of the product dispensed according to the ingredients provided is possible.

It is also known from the state of the art, for example as per WO 2011/024103, a flexible pouch or sachet for preparing a beverage such as coffee, comprising a space where a concentrated dose of the product is stored. The pouch comprises also a rigid part on one of the sides of the pouch, provided with an inlet through which water is inserted into the pouch, a tube element conveying the water towards the opposite part of the pouch, so that the mixing of the water and the ingredient is made, and an outlet through which the product is dispensed. During the preparation of the beverage the beverage outlet is positioned at the top of the pouch. Water is introduced through the inlet and through the tube element until it fills the pouch and overflows through the beverage outlet positioned at the top of the pouch too. Such a pouch is conceived for preparing a beverage by extraction of roast and ground coffee but not by dissolution of instant coffee or other soluble materials. For this reason the pouch comprises a filter at the outlet to prevent insoluble particles from being dispensed with the beverage. An inconvenient of such a pouch is that at the end of the preparation of the beverage and the introduction of water, beverage remains in the pouch which is an issue for the user who cannot properly remove the pouch from the beverage production machine. Besides, in this pouch, neither the water inlet nor the beverage outlet are closed by a membrane, which is not recommended in terms of hygiene and shelf life as it could present problems to the consumer. Moreover, these sachets do not allow the preparation of food or beverage products with multiple ingredients, as already explained for WO 99/05044, and similarly, all the products are processed in the same way, so no optimization of the product dispensed according to the ingredients provided is possible with this system.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a flexible compact pouch from which single or multiple beverages or food products can be prepared, such that this preparation is optimized for each desired product, the pouch being easy to use, clean and requiring the least of input operations from the user's part.

The present invention comes to provide a solution to the above-described needs, as it will be further explained. The invention also aims at other objects and particularly at the solution of other problems as will appear in the rest of the present description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention refers to a spout assembly 10 (also commonly referred to as fitment) for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers 20, 20′, such that each of these containers comprises at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product. According to the invention, the spout assembly 10 comprises at least one primary fluid inlet 11 and at least one secondary fluid inlet 12 through which a fluid can be supplied into the food or beverage containers 20, 20′, these fluid inlets 11, 12 being either connected to the same container or each one of the fluid inlets 11, 12 being connected to one of the plurality of containers 20, 20′. The spout assembly 10 also comprises at least one dispensing outlet 13 through which the single or multiple product is dispensed. The spout assembly 10 is further configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into the containers 20, 20′ sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.

The spout assembly 10 of the invention and/or the food or beverage containers 20, 20′ can also comprise identification means 60 having the information of the sequential fluid supply into the containers 20, 20′ which needs to be followed, as a function of the single or multiple product to be obtained.

Typically, the spout assembly 10 is configured under discrete rotational symmetry of the second order with respect to a longitudinal central axis.

In the spout assembly 10, the primary fluid inlet 11 and the secondary fluid inlet 12 are preferably piercable by injecting and piercing means 30, typically a fluid needle, which can inject high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets 11, 12, these fluid inlets 11, 12 being configured for converting the fluid injected into a high velocity jet into the containers 20, 20′.

Moreover, according to the invention, the fluid inlets 11, 12 in the spout assembly 10 are configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the containers 20, 20′, with respect to the fluid supply provided into the fluid inlets 11, 12.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the spout assembly 10 is made of two substantially identical composing parts 100, 200 attached together, such that each composing part comprises at least one fluid inlet communicated to the inside volume of the containers 20, 20′, through which fluid can be injected into the containers 20, 20′, and at least one dispensing outlet 13 through which product can be dispensed. Preferably, each one of these composing parts 100, 200 is attached to one food or beverage container 20, 20′ and is communicated to the inside volume of one of these containers 20, 20′ through one injection hole 14, 14′.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the spout assembly 10 is made of one composing part 100 which is attached to one food or beverage container 20. The spout assembly 10 comprises at least one primary fluid inlet 11 and at least one secondary fluid inlet 12, communicated to the container 20 through a primary injection hole 14 and a secondary injection hole 14′, respectively, the spout assembly 10 also comprising one dispensing outlet 13 through which the product is dispensed.

Independently on the spout assembly 10 being made of one composing part 100 or of two composing parts 100, 200, the spout assembly 10 of these two embodiments have similar outer shape and requirements of fluid inlets, so they are compatible with the same machine.

Most preferably, according to the invention, the spout assembly 10 is made of a certain number of composing parts, such that the number of composing parts corresponds to the number of food or beverage containers.

According to a second aspect, the invention refers to a pack 40 comprising a spout assembly 10 as described previously and one or a plurality of food or beverage containers 20, 20′ to which the spout assembly 10 is attached.

Preferably, each food or beverage container comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define an inner volume where at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product is stored, such that the spout assembly 10 is arranged in such a way that it brings together the or the plurality of food or beverage containers, in order to provide a sequential extraction of these containers.

According to the invention, the food or beverage containers present an essentially plane shape and the spout assembly 10 is arranged on one of the sides of the pack 40. Moreover, the food or beverage containers are arranged essentially vertically during the production and dispensing of the single or multiple product and the spout assembly 10 is arranged in such a way that the fluid coming through the fluid inlets is supplied into the containers in an upward direction.

Typically, according to the invention, the food or beverage containers comprise a soluble food or a beverage ingredient.

Moreover, the food or beverage containers preferably comprise at least one sloped area 21 in the vicinity of the spout assembly 10 converging towards the spout assembly 10.

Yet, according to a third aspect, the invention refers to a machine 50 for preparing single or multiple food or beverage products from a pack 40 as the one described previously, such that the machine 50 comprises receiving means 51 adapted to accommodate the pack 40, and also comprises injecting means 30, preferably injecting and piercing means, designed for engaging with the spout assembly 10 and for injecting high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets of the spout assembly 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a-b-c show schematic views of a pack for preparing food or beverage products according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising two food or beverage containers and a spout assembly made of two composing parts, where the containers are made from one single flexible sheet folded in half and joined at its free edges.

FIGS. 2a-b-c show schematic views of a pack for preparing food or beverage products according to another embodiment of the invention, comprising two food or beverage containers and a spout assembly made of two composing parts, where the containers are made from two different flexible sheets joined at its edges.

FIGS. 3a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4a-f show different views in detail of one of the composing parts of a spout assembly of FIGS. 3a-e for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7a-c show different views in detail of one of the composing parts of a spout assembly of FIGS. 6a-e for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10a-e show different views in detail of a spout assembly for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11a-f show different views in detail of one of the composing parts of a spout assembly of FIGS. 5a-e for the preparation of a single or multiple product according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12a-b show schematic illustration views of a pack for preparing food or beverage products, having different sizes, according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows schematically a possible embodiment of a machine designed for receiving slidably a pack for preparing food or beverage products according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows schematically another possible embodiment of a machine designed for receiving frontally a pack for preparing food or beverage products according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows the interaction of a a pack for preparing food or beverage products according to the invention with a food or beverage preparation machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a spout assembly 10 or fitment for being used with one or a plurality of food or beverage containers 20, 20′ as shown schematically in FIGS. 1a-b-c or FIG. 2a-b-c , where the spout assembly 10 is attached to two containers, a primary container 20 and a secondary container 20′. Each of these containers comprises at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product.

According to the present invention the food or beverage ingredient of the container can be comprised within the list of: soups, fruit juices, vegetable juices, bouillons, coffee, chocolate, tea, milk or creamer, smoothies, purees, coulis, creams or a combination thereof. The food or beverage ingredient can be a soluble food or beverage ingredient. Preferably the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient selected in the list of:

-   -   instant coffee powder, milk powder, cream powder, instant tea         powder, cocoa powder, soup powder, fruit powder or mixture of         said powders,     -   a coffee concentrate, a milk concentrate, a syrup, a fruit or         vegetable concentrate, a tea concentrate, a fruit or vegetable         puree.

The powders can be agglomerated or sintered. The powders or liquid concentrates can be mixed with solid pieces for example for preparing soups with solid pieces. The food or beverage ingredient can also be an infusable food or beverage ingredient like a roast and ground coffee or tea leaves. In that embodiment water extracts the infusable ingredient.

In the present invention fluid covers any aqueous diluent that can be mixed with a soluble beverage ingredient to prepare a beverage, like water, carbonated water, milk, etc. However, according to the invention, water is the preferred fluid which will be used.

The spout assembly 10 comprises at least one primary fluid inlet 11 (typically arranged on a frontal side of the spout assembly 10) and at least one secondary fluid inlet 12 (typically arranged on a rear side of the spout assembly 10): a fluid can be supplied into the food or beverage containers 20, 20′ through the primary and secondary fluid inlets 11, 12 in order to properly mix the ingredients with the fluid injected to prepare the corresponding food or beverage product. Typically, the spout assembly 10 comprises one primary fluid inlet 11 (frontal) and one secondary fluid inlet 12 (rear): when the spout assembly 10 is used with one container 20, both the primary and secondary fluid inlets 11, 12 are connected to this single container 20: in this case, any of the fluid inlets or both can be used in order to inject fluid into the volume of the container 20 to prepare the desired product. When there are for example two food or beverage containers, a primary container 20 and a secondary container 20′, each of these containers comprise one ingredient for the preparation of a final beverage which is made out of a recipe combining the ingredients from the two containers. In such an example, the primary fluid inlet 11 is connected to the primary container 20, whereas the secondary fluid inlet 12 is connected to the secondary container 20′ as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1a-b-c or FIGS. 2a-b-c . In this case, the spout assembly 10 is configured so that fluid can be supplied sequentially into the containers, for example first supplying fluid into the primary container 20 through the primary fluid inlet 11, so a first component of the product is delivered, and secondly supplying fluid into the secondary container 20′ through the secondary fluid inlet 12, so that a second component of the product is delivered, in order to prepare the appropriate recipe. As it will be further explained in more detail, depending on the recipe and therefore on the ingredients in the containers, either the primary container 20 is processed first and later the secondary container 20′, or vice versa: proper information on the processing sequence is provided in the spout assembly or in the containers to know which of the two containers shall be processed first.

The spout assembly 10 also comprises at least one dispensing outlet 13 through which the single or multiple product is dispensed. The dispensing outlet 13 is preferably configured so that it delivers the product as a free flow, meaning that the product can flow from the dispensing outlet 13 by simple gravity fall. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing outlet 13 comprises an opening 23 at the bottom of the spout assembly 10, said opening 23 having a transverse section with a surface area equivalent to the surface of a circular surface of diameter of at least 1 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, even more preferably comprised between 1.5 and 3 mm. The dispensing outlet 13 is typically configured as a straight tube oriented essentially vertically in the spout assembly 10, comprising at its end an opening 23. The length of the tube is preferably of at least 5 mm. Such a length generally enables a finalisation of the froth of the product, typically a beverage, before it is delivered in a drinking cup. An advantage of the dispensing outlet 13 of the present invention is that there is no need to implement a particular connection it and the machine when a beverage is for example produced, in order to direct the flow of the beverage delivered at the dispensing outlet 13: the beverage can flow from the dispensing outlet 13 directly into a drinking cup.

According to the invention, before the food or beverage preparation step, the dispensing outlet 13 (we refers here to one dispensing outlet 13 but when there are more than one, the following applies to all) is closed at its end. Generally the dispensing outlet is closed by manufacturing and is configured for being opened at food or beverage production step. By “closed by manufacturing” it is meant that a complete pack, comprising the containers and the spout assembly 10, is manufactured with a closed dispensing outlet 13. This closure guarantees hygienic and shelf life protection. The dispensing outlet 13 can be opened by a machine or manually.

Preferably the dispensing outlet 13 is closed by a plug 17, as represented schematically in FIG. 2a-b or 12 a-b, said plug 17 comprising means for maintaining it attached to the spout assembly 10 after the opening of the dispensing outlet 13. Consequently the plug 17 does not fall in the beverage or food during its production. The means for maintaining the plug 17 attached to the spout assembly 10 can be a plastic bond 18 attached to the spout assembly 10, for example, or any other suitable means providing a similar effect. Moreover, the dispensing outlet 13 can also comprise a weakened area near the plug 17: this weakened area can be made for example as a narrowing of the dispensing outlet tube so that it is easier to cut or tear off the plug 17 by the machine. This is shown for example in the embodiment of FIG. 3b , where a primary dispensing outlet 13 comprises a weakened area 19 and a secondary dispensing outlet 13′ comprises a weakened area 19′.

Preferably the plug 17 is part of one single spout assembly 10 comprising the dispensing outlet and the fluid inlet. In particular when the spout assembly 10 is made by injection moulding, the design of the mould also comprises the plug 17. In the same manner the plastic bond 18 can also be part of the design of the spout assembly 10 when it is made by injection moulding, which again provides advantages from a manufacturing point of view, as the same part comprises the fluid inlet, the plug 17 and the bond 18.

The spout assembly 10 is preferably rigid and is made of a rigid plastic material, preferably by injection moulding. Typically, this plastic material can be selected from the following: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid. Also according to a less preferred embodiment the spout assembly 10 can be made of a metal like aluminium or tin-plate.

Preferably, the fluid inlets 11, 12 are piercable by injecting and piercing means 30, preferably a fluid needle, called in what follows needle, such that these injecting and piercing means 30 typically comprise an inner duct or pipe through which high pressure fluid is injected in the fluid inlets 11, 12. However, it is also possible that these fluid inlets 11, 12 are directly accessible by injecting means which will inject fluid directly without the need to pierce any external lid or membrane in these fluid inlets 11, 12.

Preferably, fluid is injected at a pressure higher than 2 bar, more preferably higher than 3 bar, preferably comprised between 2 and 10 bar, more preferably of around 7 bar. The fluid inlets 11, 12 are configured in such a way that the high pressure fluid injected through them by the injecting and piercing means 30 is converted into a high velocity jet, which is driven into the container or containers. Typically, the diameter of the fluid inlets is comprised between 1 mm and 4 mm, more preferably between 1.5 mm and 3 mm and comprises a yieldably cover over it which can be pierced by the injecting and piercing means 30. The injecting and piercing means 30 also comprise a toroidal ring, preferably made of rubber, ensuring that there is no leakage of fluid outside the fluid inlet while the injecting and piercing means 30 are injecting fluid into the fluid inlet. Each fluid inlet is communicated with the inside volume of the container through an injection hole which has a diameter of at most 1 mm, preferably of at least 0.24 mm, preferably comprised between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, more preferably of about 0.4 mm. With such a configuration, the high pressure fluid injected by the injecting and piercing means 30 is conveyed internally in the fluid inlet towards the injection hole, from which it is converted into a high velocity jet of fluid injected inside the container when passing through the small section injection hole. Typically, this jet of fluid provided in the container has a velocity of at least 20 m/s.

The fluid jet which is created inside the container avoids that the food or beverage product flows through the dispensing outlet too rapidly: therefore, the time of agitation of the ingredient together with the fluid inside the container volume is increased.

According to the invention, the fluid inlets can also be configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the containers, preferably at about 90° with respect to the fluid supply provided into the fluid inlets by the injecting and piercing means 30, though any other angle would be possible and comprised within the scope of the present application.

As described, the fluid inlets in the spout assembly 10 are configured for introducing the fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the containers. By jet it is understood a stream of liquid or fluid that comes out of the fluid inlet and into the inner volume of the food or beverage container quickly and with force. Therefore, the fluid inlet is configured for introducing fluid in the inner volume of the container with a high velocity, this fluid jet preferably presenting a velocity of at least about 20 m/s, preferably at least 30 m/s.

As previously described, such a configuration is preferably obtained in the present invention by placing a constriction (that of the injection hole) in the fluid path in the fluid inlet to reduce the size of the section of the fluid inlet. Due to the small surface of the injection hole through which the fluid goes into the inner volume of the container, the pressurized fluid creates a jet in the inner volume of the container.

The small surface of the injection holes presents the advantage of avoiding any back flow of fluid from the inner volume of the container into the fluid inlet. For the same fluid to be provided through the fluid inlets, the surface of the injection hole can vary according to the nature of the food and beverage ingredient inside the container which is to be mixed with the fluid. In particular when the ingredient is difficult to dissolve a smaller injection hole creates a jet with a higher velocity which improves agitation and dissolution of this ingredient in the container.

The spout assembly 10 of the invention is preferably configured under rotational symmetry of order 2, also called 2-fold rotational symmetry or discrete rotational symmetry of the second order, with respect to a longitudinal central axis: therefore, the spout assembly 10 is reversible and can be operated in one sense or the other in a machine. The preferred embodiments of the invention are those of rotational symmetry of order 2, i.e., where n=2, but other embodiments of the spout assembly 10 having rotational symmetry with different values of n would also be possible and comprised within the scope of the present application. The spout assembly 10 can be made of two substantially identical composing parts attached together or it can be made of only one composing part. For a certain embodiment or configuration, similar outer shape and similar external configuration as to fluid inlets and injecting and piercing means are provided by either the spout assembly 10 made of two composing parts or made of one single composing part, which allows that any of them can be used in the same machine or device. This will be explained in more detail in the exemplary embodiments which will be further discussed in more detail, with reference to the Figures attached.

FIGS. 3a-e and 4a-f show a first embodiment of the invention, where the spout assembly 10 comprises two composing parts 100, 200 attached together through primary and secondary attaching means 15, 15′. FIGS. 3a to 3e show the resulting spout assembly 10, composed of two parts, while FIGS. 4a to 4f show one of these two composing parts configuring the final spout assembly 10. The two composing parts 100, 200 making the spout assembly 10 are exactly identical: they are not symmetrical or mirror parts, but they are exactly the same. Preferably, the spout assembly 10 comprising two composing parts 100 and 200 is used together with two food or beverage containers, a primary container 20 and a secondary container 20′, comprising the ingredients for the product to be dispensed: one of the configuring parts 100 is attached to the primary container 20, and the other configuring part 200 is attached to the secondary container 20′. Preferably, according to the invention, there is one composing part of the spout assembly per food or beverage container.

From a production point of view, the fact that the composing parts 100, 200 configuring the final spout assembly 10 are exactly identical provides a number of advantages, as explained herewith:

-   -   the same part is used for a high variety of products in the         containers, so there exists a high interchangeability of the         parts, the same part having a wide range of applications;     -   existing lines can be modified in order to produce these parts,         and because the parts are manufactured separately, the upgrade         on one manufacturing line will be enough for making a complete         spout assembly;     -   parts can be combined in the same line ???     -   when manufactured parts are rejected, this rejection is less         expensive as the rejected part configures one half of the total         spout assembly and not the complete one.

With reference to FIGS. 4a-f , one of the composing parts 100 (can be named as primary composing part 100, which would be exactly identical to the secondary composing part 200) comprises a primary fluid inlet 11 typically with an external piercable cover which can be pierced by injecting and piercing means (it is also possible that the fluid inlet 11 does not comprise any piercable external cover and that is injected fluid directly through injecting means which do not need to pierce and external lid or membrane). The primary fluid inlet 11 is communicated to the primary container 20 through a primary injection hole 14. The composing part 100 comprises primary attaching means 15 engaging with identical secondary attaching means 15′ on the other composing part 200 (called secondary composing part 200), so that the two parts 100 and 200 are brought together to configure the spout assembly 10. The primary composing part 100 also comprises a primary dispensing outlet 13, preferably configured as a vertical pipe, through which the product from the primary container 20 can be dispensed.

When the two identical composing parts primary 100 and secondary 200 are brought together into a spout assembly 10, the resulting spout assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 3a-e comprises one primary fluid inlet 11, typically frontal, one secondary fluid inlet 12, typically rear, a primary dispensing outlet 13 and a secondary dispensing outlet 13′. The resulting spout assembly 10 can be operated in a machine no matter the sense in which this spout assembly 10 is inserted by a user, for example frontally or in a rear position. The injecting and piercing means 30 of the machine would comprise two similar fluid needles primary needle and secondary needle, preferably of the same length, arranged under rotational symmetry of order 2 with respect to a longitudinal central axis which would allow the piercing of the primary and secondary fluid inlets 11, 12 in any sequence, independently on the sense in which the consumer would introduce the spout in the machine, as the spout assembly 10 has a reversible configuration.

The primary and secondary fluid inlets 11 and 12 are each communicated to primary and secondary injection holes 14 and 14′, respectively. Depending on the recipe or final product desired, either the content of the primary container 20 will be dispensed first, once mixed with the fluid, through primary dispensing outlet 13 (thus fluid will be injected first into the primary fluid inlet 11 and from there into the primary container 20 through the primary injection hole 14) and, secondly, in a similar way, the content of the secondary container 20′, once mixed with the fluid, will be dispensed through the secondary dispensing outlet 13′ (therefore, fluid will have been injected secondly into the secondary fluid inlet 12 and from there into the secondary container 20′ through the secondary injection hole 14′). It is clear that the reverse process, starting for example from secondary container 20′ and then continuing with primary container 20 can be done in a similar way.

FIGS. 10a-e show a second embodiment of the invention, similar to that of FIGS. 3a-e and 4a-f , but where the spout assembly 10 is now made of a unitary composing part 100 instead. Preferably, the spout assembly 10 is attached to only one container 20. The resulting spout assembly 10 of the first and second embodiments has similar outer shape and similar external configuration as to fluid inlets and injecting and piercing means, therefore allowing that the same machine can process any of them. The spout assembly 10 comprises a primary fluid inlet 11, preferably frontal, communicated to a primary injection hole 14, a secondary fluid inlet 12, preferably rear, communicated to a secondary injection hole 14′ and one primary dispensing outlet 13. Both the primary and secondary injection holes 14 and 14′, respectively, are communicated to the same primary container 20.

The machine that will operate such a spout assembly 10 according to this second embodiment is the same and has same configuration of injecting and piercing means as the one described for the first embodiment: the spout assembly 10 of the second embodiment is reversible, so it can be operated in the machine independently on the sense in which it is introduced, typically frontal or rear sense. The injecting and piercing means will then pierce either the primary fluid inlet 11 or the secondary fluid inlet 12, or both at the same time, so that the content of the primary container 20 is mixed with fluid and is further dispensed through the primary dispensing outlet 13.

FIGS. 6a-e and 7a-c show a third embodiment of the invention, where the spout assembly 10 comprises two composing parts 100, 200 (primary composing part 100 and secondary composing part 200) attached together through primary and secondary attaching means 15, 15′. The two composing parts 100, 200 making the spout assembly 10 are exactly identical, as for the first embodiment described in FIGS. 3a-e and 4a-f . FIGS. 7a-c represent details of an exemplary configuration of one of these composing parts, 100. Preferably, the spout assembly 10 is used together with two food or beverage containers, a primary container 20 attached to the primary composing part 100 and a secondary container 20′ attached to the secondary composing part 200, comprising the ingredients for the product to be dispensed.

With reference to FIGS. 7a-c , one of the composing parts 100 comprises a primary fluid inlet 11 typically with an external piercable cover which can be pierced by injecting and piercing means, typically a needle (it is also possible that the fluid inlet 11 does not comprise any piercable external cover and that is injected fluid directly through injecting means which do not need to pierce and external lid or membrane). The primary fluid inlet 11 is communicated to the primary container 20 through a primary injection hole 14. The composing part 100 comprises primary attaching means 15 engaging with identical secondary attaching means 15′ on the secondary composing part 200, so that the two parts 100 and 200 are brought together to configure the spout assembly 10. The primary composing part 100 also comprises a primary dispensing outlet 13, preferably configured as a vertical pipe, through which the product can be dispensed.

When the two identical composing parts 100 and 200 are brought together into a spout assembly 10, the resulting spout assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 6a-e comprises one primary fluid inlet 11, preferably frontal, one secondary fluid inlet 12, preferably rear, a primary and a secondary dispensing outlets 13 and 13′. The primary and secondary fluid inlets 11 and 12 are each communicated to primary and secondary injection holes 14 and 14′, respectively. When the spout assembly 10 is attached to primary and secondary containers 20 and 20′, depending on the recipe or final product desired, either the primary container 20 will be dispensed first, once mixed with the fluid, through the primary dispensing outlet 13 (thus fluid will be injected first into the primary fluid inlet 11 and from there into the primary container 20 through the primary injection hole 14) and, secondly, in a similar way, the content of the secondary container 20′, once mixed with the fluid, will be dispensed through the secondary dispensing outlet 13′ (therefore, fluid will have been injected secondly into the secondary fluid inlet 12 and from there into the secondary container 20′ through the secondary injection hole 14′). It is clear that the reverse process, starting for example from the secondary container 20′ and then continuing with primary container 20 can be done in a similar way: because the spout assembly 10 is reversible, it does not matter if it is introduced in the machine in one sense or the other, either frontally or in a rear position, similarly as to what has been already described for the first embodiment.

The injecting and piercing means 30 of the machine would comprise two similar primary and secondary fluid needles, preferably of the same length, arranged under rotational symmetry of order 2 with respect to a longitudinal central axis which would allow the piercing of the primary and secondary fluid inlets 11, 12 in any sequence, independently on the sense in which the consumer would introduce the spout in the machine, as the spout assembly 10 has a reversible configuration. This is also the same configuration of injecting and piercing means as already described for the first embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8a-e show a fourth embodiment of the invention, similar to that of FIGS. 6a-e and 7a-c but where the spout assembly 10 is now made of a unitary composing part 100 instead. The resulting spout assembly 10 of the third and fourth embodiments have similar outer shape and similar external configuration as to fluid inlets and injecting and piercing means, therefore allowing that the same machine can process any of them. Preferably, the spout assembly 10 according to this fourth embodiment is attached to one primary container 20. The spout assembly 10 comprises now a primary fluid inlet 11, preferably frontal, communicated to a primary injection hole 14, a secondary fluid inlet 12, preferably rear, communicated to a secondary injection hole 14′ and a primary dispensing outlet 13, both the primary and the secondary injection holes 14 and 14′, being communicated to the primary container 20.

The machine that will operate such a spout assembly 10 according to this fourth embodiment is the same and has same configuration of injecting and piercing means as the one described for the third embodiment: the spout assembly 10 of the fourth embodiment is reversible, so it can be operated in the machine independently on the sense in which it is introduced, typically frontal or rear sense. The injecting and piercing means will then pierce either the primary fluid inlet 11 or the secondary fluid inlet 12, or both at the same time, so that the content of the primary container 20 is mixed with fluid and is further dispensed through the primary dispensing outlet 13.

FIGS. 5a-e and 11a-f show a fifth embodiment of the invention, where the spout assembly 10 comprises two composing parts 100, 200 (typically named as primary composing part 100 and secondary composing part 200) attached together through primary and secondary attaching means 15 and 15′. The two composing parts 100, 200 making the spout assembly 10 are exactly identical, as for the first and third embodiments described previously. FIGS. 11a-f represent details of an exemplary configuration of one of these composing parts 100. Preferably, the resulting spout assembly 10 is used together with two food or beverage containers, primary and secondary containers, 20 and 20′ respectively, comprising the ingredients for the product to be dispensed.

With reference to FIGS. 11a-f , one of the composing parts 100 comprises a primary fluid inlet 11, typically frontal, and a subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′, both typically comprising an external piercable lid or cover which can be pierced by injecting and piercing means, typically a fluid needle. However, it is also possible that the fluid inlet 11 does not comprise any lid or membrane and that injection means will inject directly fluid through it without the need to pierce any external lid. The primary fluid inlet 11 is communicated to a primary container 20 through a primary injection hole 14. The subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′ is a through hole which is in fact continued in the secondary composing part 200 towards the secondary fluid inlet 12 arranged at the rear part of the spout assembly 10 when the two composing parts 100 and 200 are brought together. In a similar way, a secondary composing part 200 would have also a secondary fluid inlet 12, and a subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′: the subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′ is a through hole which is communicated towards the primary fluid inlet 11 (arranged at the frontal part of the spout assembly 10) when the two composing parts 100 and 200 are brought together and the secondary fluid inlet 12 is communicated to a secondary container 20′ through a secondary injection hole 14′.

The reason for having such configuration is the use of the spout assembly 10 with the same machine, particularly with the injecting and piercing means of such machine, such that the spout assembly 10 is reversible and can be operated one sense or the other when introduced in the machine. The primary composing part 100 also comprises primary attaching means 15 engaging with identical secondary attaching means 15′ on the secondary composing part 200, so that the two parts 100 and 200 are brought together to configure the spout assembly 10 according to this fifth embodiment. The primary composing part 100 also comprises a primary dispensing outlet 13, preferably configured as a vertical pipe, through which the product can be dispensed.

When the two identical composing parts 100 and 200 are brought together into a spout assembly 10, the resulting spout assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 5a-e comprises one primary fluid inlet 11, preferably arranged on the frontal part of the spout assembly 10, one subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′, one secondary fluid inlet 12, preferably arranged at the rear part of the spout assembly 10, one subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′ and two dispensing outlets, a primary and a secondary dispensing outlet, 13 and 13′ respectively. The subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′ is communicated with the primary fluid inlet 11, so that they are in fact one internal duct, out of which there is a primary injection hole 14 communicating with a primary container 20. Similarly, the subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′ is communicated with the secondary fluid inlet 12, being one internal duct, out of which there is one secondary injection hole 14′ communicating with a secondary container 20′. When the spout assembly 10 is attached to two containers 20 and 20′, depending on the recipe or final product desired, either the primary container 20 will be dispensed first, once mixed with the fluid, through a primary dispensing outlet 13 (thus fluid will be injected first either into the primary fluid inlet 11 or into the subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′, depending on how the spout was introduced in the machine, in frontal or rear sense, and from there into the primary container 20 through the primary injection hole 14) and, secondly, in a similar way, the content of the secondary container 20′, once mixed with the fluid, will be dispensed through the secondary dispensing outlet 13′ (therefore, fluid will have been injected secondly either into the secondary fluid inlet 12 and from there into the secondary container 20′, depending on how the spout was introduced in the machine, through the secondary injection hole 14′). As explained, it is clear that this configuration allows the spout assembly 10 to be reversible with respect to its insertion into the machine, so the reverse process, starting from the secondary container 20′ and then continuing with the primary container 20 can be done in a similar way.

The machine that will operate such a spout assembly 10 according to a fifth embodiment will comprise injecting and piercing means 30, preferably configured as two similar primary and secondary fluid needles, having different lengths, and arranged on the same side of the machine. Therefore, independently on the sense in which the spout assembly 10 is introduced in the machine (either in a frontal or in a rear position, i.e., in recto or verso orientation) the needles can pierce either the primary or secondary fluid inlets 11 and 12 in any sequence, either directly and/or through the subordinate primary and secondary fluid inlets 11′ and 12′. If the spout assembly is for example introduced in a frontal position, the short needle will pierce the primary fluid inlet 11 (giving access to the primary injection hole 14) and the long needle will pierce the subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′ (giving access to the secondary injection hole 14′). Dispensing of the primary container 20 (through the primary injection hole 14 and primary dispensing outlet 13) can start first, followed by dispensing of the secondary container 20′ (through the secondary injection hole 14′ and secondary dispensing outlet 13′), or vice-versa. Similar operation will occur with similar resulting product obtained when the spout assembly is introduced in a rear position in the machine.

FIGS. 9a-f show a sixth embodiment of the invention, similar to that of FIGS. 5a-e and 11a-f , but where the spout assembly 10 is now made of a unitary composing part 100 instead. The resulting spout assembly 10 of the fifth and sixth embodiments have similar outer shape and similar external configuration as to fluid inlets and injecting and piercing means, therefore allowing that the same machine can process any of them. Preferably, the spout assembly 10 according to this sixth embodiment is attached to one primary container 20. The spout assembly 10 comprises now a primary fluid inlet 11, preferably frontal, communicated to a primary injection hole 14, a secondary fluid inlet 12, preferably rear, communicated to a secondary injection hole 14′ and a primary dispensing outlet 13. Both the primary and the secondary injection holes 14 and 14′, respectively, are communicated to the primary container 20. The spout assembly 10 also comprises a subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′ which is a through hole communicating to the secondary injection hole 14′ and being continued in the secondary fluid inlet 12. Also, the spout assembly 10 comprises a subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′ which is a through hole communicated to the primary injection hole 14 and continued in the primary fluid inlet 11.

The machine that will operate such a spout assembly 10 according to a sixth embodiment will comprise injecting and piercing means 30, preferably configured as two similar primary and secondary fluid needles, having different lengths, and arranged on the same side of the machine, similar as to those described for the fifth embodiment. Therefore, independently on the sense in which the spout assembly 10 is introduced in the machine (either in a frontal or in a rear position, i.e., in a recto or verso orientation) the needles will pierce either the primary fluid inlet 11 or the secondary fluid inlet 12, or both at the same time, either directly and/or through the subordinate primary and secondary fluid inlets 11′ and 12′. If the spout assembly is for example introduced in a frontal position, the short needle will pierce the primary fluid inlet 11 (giving access to the primary injection hole 14) and the long needle will pierce the subordinate primary fluid inlet 11′ (giving access to the secondary injection hole 14′): either the two needles will inject fluid or only one of them will inject fluid into the primary container 20 to prepare the product mixture, so the prepared product will be dispensed through the primary dispensing outlet. When the spout assembly is introduced in the machine in a rear positioning, for example, the long needle will pierce the subordinate secondary fluid inlet 12′ (giving access to the primary injection hole 14) and the short needle will pierce the secondary fluid inlet 12 (giving access to the secondary injection hole 14′): similarly, either the two needles will inject fluid or only one of them will inject fluid into the primary container 20 to prepare the product mixture, so the prepared product will be dispensed through the primary dispensing outlet 13.

The machine that will operate such a spout assembly 10 according to this sixth embodiment is the same and has same configuration of injecting and piercing means 30 as the machine described for the fifth embodiment.

According to a second aspect, the invention also refers to a pack 40 comprising a spout assembly 10 as the one described previously, and one or a plurality of food or beverage containers 20, 20′ to which the spout assembly 10 is attached. Preferably, the number of containers correspond to the number of containers that the pack 40 comprises. Different sizes of the pack 40, as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b can be used in a same machine adapted to store different quantities of ingredients: typically, it is the configuration of the spout assembly 10 as to external shape and piercing requirements of the fluid inlets what determines the machine to use; however, the size of the containers, when extending vertically, as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b , does not determine or limit the machine. As a consequence, it becomes possible to produce different products, such as for example a cup of espresso coffee or a bowl of soup. The external design and configuration of the spout assembly 10 will remain unchanged independently on the product targeted; however, the internal design of the spout assembly 10, in particular as to the diameter of the injection holes will differ as a function of the ingredient to be processed and therefore as a function of the food or beverage product targeted. Also, other parameters such as the flow rate of fluid injected and/or the temperature of the fluid injected and/or the total volume of fluid injected, for the single or plurality of containers, will be modified as a function of the ingredient to be processed and therefore as a function of the food or beverage product targeted.

According to an embodiment of the invention the range of packs such as described above can comprise at least two types of packs essentially differing by their ability to produce a foamy beverage or a non-foamy beverage. The first type of pack that is able to produce a foamy beverage generally presents a water inlet configured for introducing a water jet in the inner volume of the pack with a higher velocity than the second type of pack. The first type of pack preferably presents a beverage outlet configured for keeping the beverage as long as possible in the inner volume of the pack. Then the injection hole of the first type of pack presents a dispensing outlet with a surface area equivalent to the surface of a circular surface of diameter smallest than for the second type of pack. The first type of pack also preferably presents a shape configured for improving the movement of the fluid and the beverage in the container during beverage or food preparation. It has been observed that rectangular containers presenting a ratio length/width of about 4/3 and with the spout assembly 10 placed at the width side improve the agitation of the fluid and the generation of foam. This effect is even more accentuated when the spout assembly 10 is positioned at the side corner of the width with the length. The foaming of the beverage can also depend from the nature of the food or beverage ingredient. The invention enables the production of a range of different packs 40 adapted for the agitation and dissolution of different types of beverage or food ingredients comprised in the containers.

Each food or beverage container configuring the pack 40 preferably comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define an inner volume where at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product is stored: as shown in FIGS. 12a-b the spout assembly 10 is preferably arranged in such a way that it brings together the or the plurality of food or beverage containers, in order to provide a sequential extraction of them. Preferably, the food or beverage containers present an essentially plane shape, wherein the spout assembly 10 is arranged on one of the sides of the pack 40. Preferably the pack itself is substantially flexible and looks like a pouch or sachet. By flexible, it is meant that the sheets can be bent easily. The resulting pack 40 can be bent also, as being soft and can be deformed contrary to rigid containers. The flexible sheet material can be plastic laminates, metallised foil or alufoil or fibre base material. According to the invention the two flexible water impermeable sheets can be formed of one single flexible water impermeable sheet folded in half and joined at its free edges.

The pack 40 can also comprise an excrescence enabling the handling of the pack 40 by the user or consumer: this has not been shown in the Figures attached, though.

Typically, the two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define the inner volume of the container are formed of one single flexible water impermeable sheet folded in half and joined at its free edges. According to said mode the container is a plane pouch made of a flexible material sheet, said sheet being folded at the top of the container and bonded on its edges to define the inner volume, the bottom bonded edge typically including the spout assembly 10. This embodiment constitutes a particularly easy way to manufacture the pack 40 comprising the containers and the spout assembly since it requires the cutting of only one piece of sheet—most preferably according to a rectangular shape—and its folding to create the inner volume for the food or beverage ingredient. Typically, also for manufacturing convenience, the spout assembly 10 is introduced in the bottom edge of the container during the sealing of its edges.

The water inlets are typically enclosed in the complete pack 40 by the sheet(s) of material defining the inner volume of the containers: the yieldable cover over the fluid inlets piercable by the injecting and piercing means 30 is therefore made by the sheets of material covering these fluid inlets, so it is not necessary to prepare any supplementary cover or membrane to go over them, so the manufacturing is easy and convenient. Consequently the same piece of material can be used to simultaneously create the inner volume of the container and to close the fluid inlets. As such, the invention provides a pack 40 that is easy to manufacture and which guarantees hygienic and shelf life protection of the food and beverage ingredients and of the produced food or beverage product.

Preferably, the introduction of the spout assembly 10 in the bottom edge of the container during the sealing of its edges to configure the complete pack 40 makes it possible that the flexible sheet can cover the part of the spout assembly 10 including the fluid inlet. Consequently during the single step of bonding the edges of the sheet, it is possible to simultaneously create the inner volume for storing the food or beverage ingredient, place the spout assembly 10 and close the fluid inlet. Preferably the dispensing outlet is not covered by the sheet. Yet it can be visually hidden by a part of the sheet e.g. by a skirt of the sheet. Also preferably, according to the invention, the spout assembly 10 comprises ribs 16 arranged in at least one of the external surfaces of the spout assembly 10 for improving the adhesion of the spout with the flexible material sheet during sealing. In particular a raising edge can surround the fluid inlet so as to improve air and water tightness around it.

According to the invention, either the spout assembly 10 and/or the food or beverage containers preferably comprise identification means 60 which comprise the information for the sequential fluid supply from the fluid inlets into the different containers: as explained previously, this sequential processing of the ingredients in the containers is done as a function of the recipe of the product targeted, so this information on which container should be processed in first place and in second place (typically when having two containers in the pack 40) is provided by the identification means to the machine where the pack 40 is going to be processed. Because the spout assembly 10 and therefore the pack 40 are reversible, the user can introduce the pack 40 in one sense or the other and the machine needs to be able to know in which sense the pack 40 has been introduced, so that a correct sequential processing of the containers in the pack 40 is done, this information being provided by the identification means 60 (either in the spout assembly 10 or in the containers) to the machine for correct final product recipe targeted. Such identification means 60 can comprise any kind of recognition means such as, for example, mechanical codes, optical codes, RFID tags, bar codes, magnetic codes, or the like. Most preferably, the identification means 60 of the invention will be made as detection holes (schematically represented in FIGS. 2a and 2b ) on one lateral edge of the food or beverage containers, configured by the two flexible sheets brought together to conform the pouch or container, preferably on the sealing area of the container, where there is no product or ingredient. When the two sheets are brought together and are welded on the edges to configure one or more containers, on one of these lateral edges, additional welding with circumferential shape will be provided, thus configuring the holes as punching holes. A plurality of holes will typically be provided vertically on one of the edges of the containers brought together: these holes will allow light to pass through and, depending on the configuration of the holes, the machine will be provided with the information on the sequence of processing of the containers to be followed. Because the packs 40 according to the present invention are made reversible, in order to allow the machine to read the identification means 60 independently on the sense in which the pack 40 has been introduced, these identification means 60, typically these detection holes or punched holes, will be provided on two lateral edges of the containers, as represented in FIG. 2a-b or 12 a-b, for example. On each side, the identification means 60 will also provide the machine with the information regarding the sense of introduction of the pack.

The identification means 60 in the spout assembly 10 and/or the food or beverage containers also comprise the information on process parameters to produce the food or beverage product. The process parameters are at least one or a combination of the following: temperature of the fluid injected in the single or plurality of containers, total volume of fluid and fluid flow injected in the single or plurality of containers. These parameters are also provided together with the information on the sequential processing of the single or plurality of containers configuring the pack. Preferably, two sets of symmetrically arranged identification means 60 are arranged in the pack, so that the process parameters in the identification means 60 can be reversibly read (when made as punching holes, these holes are punched on both reversible sides of the pack, frontal and reverse; as the identification means 60 are also arranged on the two lateral sides of the pack, they can therefore be read no matter the way the pack is introduced in the machine).

Preferably, according to the invention, the pack 40 presents a plane shape oriented along a plane essentially vertically oriented during beverage production and the fluid inlet orientates the jet of fluid in a direction comprised in said plane. The fluid jet introduced from the bottom into the container is developing into circular and spiral movements creating turbulences, frictions and high contact surfaces between the fluid molecules (typically, water molecules) and the ingredient particles. In average the fluid molecules have several turns within the container until they leave it together with the beverage or food product once mixed. Best results (reconstitution) have been observed with a pack of rectangular shape. Packs with single spout assembly placed in the corner of a rectangular pack have also been found to improve reconstitution.

According to the invention, the food or beverage containers are arranged essentially vertically during the production and dispensing of the single or multiple product, and the spout assembly 10 is arranged in such a way that the fluid coming through the fluid inlets is supplied into the containers in an upward direction.

Also as shown in FIGS. 12a-b , the food or beverage containers preferably comprise at least one, more preferably two sloped areas 21 symmetrically arranged presenting slanted shapes in the vicinity of the spout assembly 10 converging towards the spout assembly 10, which enhance and facilitate the dispensing of all the product inside the container through the dispensing outlet, such that a minimized quantity of it can be left inside the container, therefore avoiding that beverage or food ingredients remain blocked in these corners. The sloped areas 21 can be obtained by sidewise sealing the corners of the containers. The food or beverage containers can present various external shapes like rectangular, square or round shapes. The inner volume of these containers would preferably present a shape configured for improving the movement of the fluid and the food or beverage ingredient in the container during product preparation.

According to yet another aspect, the invention refers to a machine 50 for preparing single or multiple food or beverage products from a pack 40 as described previously. The machine 50 comprises receiving means 51 adapted to accommodate the pack 40 preferably in such a way that the pack 40 is positioned vertically and the spout assembly is positioned at the bottom of the pack 40, and injecting means 30 (preferably also being piercing means) designed for engaging with the spout assembly 10 and for injecting high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets of the spout assembly 10. Typically, as the pack 40 is processed to obtain the beverage or food product in an essentially vertical position in the machine 50, the pack 40 will be introduced either frontally in the machine 50 (as schematically represented in FIG. 14) or laterally, so that the pack 40 is slidably inserted into a dedicated insert in the machine 50 (as schematically represented in FIG. 13).

According to the present invention, the fluid can be supplied to the pack 40 at any temperature, cold, ambient or hot, depending on the type of food or beverage product targeted.

According to the invention and as schematically illustrated in FIG. 15, a machine 50 for preparing food or beverage products from a pack 40 as described previously comprises at least:

-   -   a fluid supply or tank 84 and a pump 82 for supplying         pressurized fluid to the fluid inlets in the spout assembly 10;     -   a heater 83 for eventually heating the fluid;     -   a bypass line 87 for delivering fluid at ambient temperature;     -   a valve (not illustrated) for the selection of either hot or         ambient fluid,     -   optionally, a cooling unit (not shown) can also be provided in         the machine 50 for delivering cold fluid;     -   injecting means, preferably piercing and injecting means, more         preferably one or a plurality of fluid needles, piercing the         fluid inlets and injecting the pressurized fluid coming from the         fluid supply into the fluid inlets;     -   a device for cutting or tearing the plugs 17 and/or 17′ (when         the spout assembly 10 in the pack 40 comprises more than one         dispensing outlet 13, there will be more than one plug 17, as         there is typically one plug 17 per dispensing outlet 13) from         the dispensing outlet 13.

The device for cutting or tearing the plugs 17, 17′ is preferably arranged in the machine 50 in such a way that the plugs are automatically cut when the pack 40 is introduced in the machine 50 or when the food or beverage preparation is activated.

The machine 50 also comprises a data reader, preferably comprising an optical device, which reads and retrieves the information from the identification means 60 regarding the process parameters to be used for preparing the food or beverage product from the pack 40 (sequential processing of the single or plurality of containers, temperature, flow rate and total flow of fluid for the single or plurality of containers).

Preferably, the data reader will retrieve the information from the identification means 60 in the pack 40 by a light emitter device emitting light passing through punched holes configuring in a preferred embodiment the identification means 60.

Preferably the machine further comprises a positioning area 86 for allocating a drinking cup 9 under the dispensing outlet or outlets of the pack 40 when a food product or a beverage is prepared.

Also preferably, the machine 50 further comprises a cutting device 85 for cutting the closing plugs 17, 17′ of the dispensing outlets 13, 13′. The cutting device 85 can be positioned so that the plugs are automatically cut when the pack 40 is introduced in the machine 50 or when the food or beverage preparation is activated.

Also as per the invention, a method for manufacturing a pack 40 such as described above, the pack 40 comprising a spout assembly 10 and one or a plurality of food or beverage containers would comprise the steps of:

-   -   folding a sheet of material and bonding both lateral edges of it         to form a pouch;     -   filling the pouch so formed through the remaining open edges         with a food or beverage ingredient;     -   positioning the spout assembly 10 between the remaining open         edges and bonding said edges.

The present invention presents the advantage of proposing packs for the preparation of food or beverages wherein a broad range of different foods and beverages can be produced with the same machine. The foods and beverages can differ by their nature (coffee, tea, chocolate, soup, etc.), by their aspect (presence of foam for coffee, of foam for milk and chocolate, absence of bubbles for tea, etc.), by their volume (from espresso volume up to soup volume) and still be obtained by the same machine. The machine elements can remain very simple and limited to a simple fluid needle, typically a simple water needle.

The present invention presents the advantage of proposing a consumer friendly preparation of foods and beverages. The beverage of food delivered from the pack is ready to be served and does not require any additional process step, for example for foaming the beverage.

The present invention also presents the advantage of proposing packs wherein the ingredients are fully protected from atmosphere before use.

The present invention presents the advantage of proposing packs for preparing beverages or food products wherein the contact of ingredients and prepared beverage or food product with the machine is avoided and the risk of cross contamination is therefore limited. The prepared beverages or food products present optimal organoleptic properties.

The present invention further presents the advantage of proposing packs presenting a low environmental impact since they can be made of a laminated pouch with a small insert piece (spout assembly) of plastic.

The present invention presents the advantage of proposing packs which can be very easily produced starting from flexible sheets and one single spout assembly inserted. In particular the pack usually does not comprise an internal filter or membrane to be positioned in the inner volume during manufacturing.

Besides, the packs of the present invention comprise in one single and grouped package a recipe to be prepared when the pack comprises more than one container, so that a sequential preparation is followed. Reduced manipulations to be done on the side of the consumer are also a big advantage on the user's side. Moreover, best in-cup results can be achieved as the extraction and processing sequence is pre-defined and in fact comprised in the information on the identification means 60. Another very important advantage of the packs of the invention is that the packs comprising one container and those comprising a plurality of containers are compatible and can be used in a same machine having the same brewing unit.

The space needed for storing the packs according to the invention, even those comprising a plurality of containers, is illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b , for example, and clearly show that the space needs the consumer has to preview for the packs is clearly much less than that for typical capsule containers, for example.

Another essential advantage of the pack of the invention is that the spout assembly in the pack is reversible, when the spout assembly comprises one composing part or two composing parts, so it can be introduced in the machine in any sense (when using a machine with the configuration of FIG. 14, it can be introduced frontally or in the rear sense, i.e., in a recto or verso orientation; when using a machine as represented in FIG. 13, the pack can be introduced laterally in any of the two possible senses). Besides, the spout assembly comprising one composing part or two composing parts has exactly the same outer shape so the same machine can be used for the two configurations, and also has similar fluid inlet piercing need, which allows the use of same compatible needles configuration. This is also possible thanks to the identification means in the pack: not only the physical configuration and mechanical needs are the same for the packs, independently on the sense in which they are introduced in the machine, making it possible that they can be processed/operated in one sense or the other, but the identification means further provide the information to the machine which allows the machine to know the correct sequence of processing of the container or containers in the pack.

Therefore, the main goal of the spout assembly designed according to the present invention is that, either when made of one single composing part or when made of two composing parts attached together, the resulting spout assembly is in both cases compatible and can be used in the same machine.

Another primary advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the spout assembly, when made out of one single composing part, has exactly the same outer shape in both sides, which allows that there exists no crippling of the flexible sheets when they are welded onto the spout assembly. Moreover, the same outer shape on both sides of the spout assembly is also provided when the spout assembly is made out of two composing parts attached together, again avoiding any crippling risk.

Further, as explained in detail previously, the two composing parts configuring a spout assembly are exactly the same, with the corresponding related manufacturing advantages.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   40 Pack -   21 Sloped area -   60 Identification means -   10 Spout assembly -   100 Composing part of spout assembly -   200 Composing part of spout assembly -   11 Primary fluid inlet -   11′ Subordinate primary fluid inlet -   12 Secondary fluid inlet -   12′ Subordinate secondary fluid inlet -   13 Primary dispensing outlet -   13′ Secondary dispensing outlet -   23 Opening in primary dispensing outlet -   23′ Opening in secondary dispensing outlet -   17 Plug of primary dispensing outlet -   17′ Plug of secondary dispensing outlet -   18 Bond of primary dispensing outlet -   18′ Bond of secondary dispensing outlet -   19 Weakened area of primary dispensing outlet -   19′ Weakened area of secondary dispensing outlet -   14 Primary injection hole -   14′ Secondary injection hole -   16 Primary ribs -   16′ Secondary ribs -   20 Primary food or beverage container -   20′ Secondary food or beverage container -   50 Machine -   51 Receiving means -   9 Drinking cup -   30 Injecting means -   85 Cutting device -   84 Fluid tank -   83 Heater -   87 Bypass line -   82 Pump -   86 Positioning area 

1. A spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising: at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.
 2. A spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spout assembly and/or the single or plurality of food or beverage containers comprise an identification member having the information of the sequential fluid supply into the single or plurality of containers which is to be followed, as a function of the single or multiple product to be obtained.
 3. A spout assembly according to claim 1, such that the spout assembly is configured under discrete rotational symmetry of the second order with respect to a longitudinal central axis.
 4. A spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the primary fluid inlet and the secondary fluid inlet are piercable by an injector which can inject high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets, the fluid inlets being configured for converting the fluid injected into a high velocity jet into the single or plurality of containers.
 5. A spout assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fluid inlets convert the fluid injected into a jet having a velocity of at least 20 m/s.
 6. A spout assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fluid inlets are configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the single or plurality of containers.
 7. A spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the fluid inlets communicating with the inside volume of the single or plurality of containers is between 0.3 and 1 mm.
 8. A spout assembly according to claim 1, made of two substantially identical composing parts attached together, wherein each composing part comprises at least one fluid inlet communicated to the inside volume of a single or a plurality of containers, through which fluid can be injected into a single or plurality of containers, and at least one dispensing outlet through which product can be dispensed.
 9. A spout assembly according to claim 8, wherein each one of the composing parts is attached to one food or beverage container, such that each one of the composing parts is communicated to the inside volume of one of these containers through one injection hole.
 10. A spout assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of the composing parts comprises at least two fluid inlets configured as through holes, one of the fluid inlets being communicated to at least an injection hole through which a high velocity jet can be introduced into a food or beverage container, the injection hole being arranged at a certain angle with respect to the fluid inlet.
 11. A spout assembly according to claim 1, made of one composing part attached to one food or beverage container.
 12. A spout assembly according to claim 11 comprising at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet, communicated to the container through a primary injection hole and a secondary injection hole, respectively, the spout assembly also comprising one dispensing outlet through which the product is dispensed.
 13. A spout assembly according to claim 11 comprising at least two frontal fluid inlets, configured as through holes, one of them being communicated to at least a primary injection hole, also comprising at least two rear fluid inlets, configured as through holes communicated to the frontal inlets, one of them being communicated to at least a secondary injection hole, such that a high velocity jet can be introduced into a food or beverage container through the primary and/or secondary injection holes, the injection holes being arranged at a certain angle with respect to the frontal and rear fluid inlets, preferably at about 90°.
 14. (canceled)
 15. A spout assembly according to claim 1 made of a certain number of composing parts, the number of composing parts corresponding to the number of food or beverage containers.
 16. A pack comprising a spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising: at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.
 17. A pack according to claim 16 wherein each food or beverage container comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define an inner volume where at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product is stored, the spout assembly being arranged in such a way that it brings together the or the plurality of food or beverage containers, in order to provide a sequential extraction of these containers.
 18. A pack according to claim 16, wherein the food or beverage containers present an essentially plane shape, the spout assembly being arranged on one of the sides of the pack.
 19. A pack according to claim 16, wherein the food or beverage containers are arranged essentially vertically during the production and dispensing of the single or multiple product, the spout assembly being arranged in such a way that the fluid coming through the fluid inlets is supplied into the containers in an upward direction.
 20. A pack according to claim 16, wherein the food or beverage containers comprise a soluble food or a beverage ingredient.
 21. A pack according to claim 16, wherein the food or beverage containers comprise at least one sloped area arranged in the vicinity of the spout assembly and converging towards the spout assembly.
 22. A machine for preparing single or multiple food or beverage products from a pack comprising a spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising: at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed, the machine comprising a receiving member adapted to accommodate the pack and injector designed for engaging with the spout assembly and for injecting high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets of the spout assembly. 